Mr HOWARD (Prime Minister) (2:00 PM)
—I inform the House that the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Transport and Regional Services is unwell and will be absent from question time today. The Minister for Trade will answer questions on his behalf. I also inform the House that the Minister for Science will be absent from question time today and for the remainder of the week. The minister is representing the government at the Boao Forum for Asia annual conference in China. The Minister for Education, Science and Training will answer questions on his behalf.